Contacting system or reader for chip cards

ABSTRACT

A flexible circuit board is used to provide the contact elements of a chip card reader. The contact area of the contact elements is obtained by deforming the flexible circuit board into cusps, with a contacting force being applied to the cusps by a single spring element. The flexible circuit board can be folded along a line which is either transverse or parallel to the card insertion direction in order to enable engagement of contact elements with both sides of the card.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a contacting system in particular for cardscontaining a chip, e.g. chip cards or SIM-cards.

2. Description of Related Arts

Chip card contacting systems (which are also simply called chip cardreaders) are known in many forms; attention is drawn for instance toU.S. Pat. No. 4,795,897, EP 0 234 654 and FR 86 02 401. The presentinvention intends in particular to provide a contacting system which isextremely inexpensive and which is suitable for realizing componentgroups which are particularly flat as is required for mobile telephones.Moreover, the invention has the object to arrange larger tolerances forthe distance in the case of sandwich designs of the chip card reader.

Particularly in the area of PCM mobile telephones, there is a fastincreasing need for contacting apparatus for chip cards or the like.This means that there is an increasing desire for low-cost contactingsystems so that the costs of the apparatus using the contacting systemremain favourable.

As a rule, the low cost CCAD is similar to the classic direct connectorbut the materials and methods used therefore have too high cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect of the invention a flexible circuit board (flex print)is used for realizing the contact elements of a reader, for instance, achip card reader. Inasmuch as the flexible circuit board is, generallyspeaking, a foil or film, the reader created in this manner can also bereferred to as a "foil connector". In the contact area a cover foil ofthe flexible circuit board is interrupted. Preferably, a Cu conductorpath of the flexible circuit board is deformed into a cusp and is coatedwith an appropriate noble metal. The contacting force is provided by aspring element which is preferably of single piece or integral design.Said contacting force will only be applied if the card is in a readingposition in said contacting apparatus.

By using the features of the invention, the following will result:

Contact resistances due to contact springs will not exist.

If said flexible circuit board or foils are used and are coated withmetal on both sides, then a chip adjacent said foil is shielded over itssurface.

As is customary, contacting can occur at the termination side of thefoil. In SMT (surface mounted technology) groups of components only thefoil connector needs to be exposed to the heat of soldering.

Poliflexfoils can also be directly soldered.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the inventiveprinciple can also be used for readers designed for transverse insertionof the card.

Further, readers with any desirable direction of insertion can berealized in accordance with a second and third aspect of the invention.For this purpose the flexible circuit board comprises preferably fourcontact fields, each two at the upper side and at the bottom side of thecard. Moreover, this feature concerns only the contact less card. Also,a minimum height for the foil reader can be realized.

By special design of a pressure applying spring element, a largerbalance of the height for making contact can be realized. This featureis particularly decisive, if the contacting system or unit is formed bytwo groups of components, the distance of which has larger tolerances.An example is the arrangement of the reader between the housing of thetelephone and the battery pack of the telephone.

Further aspects of the present invention will be seen from the followingdescription. Also, further advantages, objects and details of theinvention can be gathered from the description of embodiments of theinvention in connection with the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a part of a contacting system ofthe invention of FIG. 2 in accordance with a first aspect of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the contacting system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail of the contacting system of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a flexible circuit board forrealizing a second aspect of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the folded circuit board of FIG. 4for forming a universal chip card reader in accordance with the secondaspect of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view similar to FIG. 4 of a flexible circuit boarddesigned in accordance with a third aspect of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the two circuit board halves shownin FIG. 6 which are now placed on top of each other for forming auniversal chip card reader;

FIG. 8 shows the arrangement of the conductive or conductor paths of aflexible circuit board as it is used in the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a chip card reader inaccordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, wherein thesection line extends in substance along the longitudinal center line inFIG. 11;

FIG. 10 a sectional view similar to FIG. 9 but in a card readingposition;

FIG. 11 a schematic plan view of the chip card reader of FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 12 a plane view of a spring element as it is used for a chip cardreader of FIGS. 9 to 20;

FIG. 13 a sectional view through a carriage, in substance along thelongitudinal center line of FIG. 14;

FIG. 14 a top plan view of a carriage of the chip card reader shown inFIG. 9;

FIG. 15 a sectional view substantially along the line 15--15 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 16 a top plan view of a base portion of the chip card reader ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 17 a schematic side elevational view of the flex print shown inFIG. 18;

FIG. 18 a top plan view of the flex print in accordance with FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 a schematic view of a portion of a cover foil of the flex print;

FIG. 20 a schematic side elevational view of a portion of a base foil ofthe flex print of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a chip card reader inaccordance with a fifth aspect of the invention;

FIG. 22 a side elevational view of the chip card reader similar to FIG.21 and showing the chip card here in its reading position;

FIG. 23 a plan view of the chip card reader of FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 a schematic sectional view transverse to the longitudinal axisof the chip card reader of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 a sectional view along the line 25--25 in FIG. 26;

FIG. 26 a top plan view of a pressure plate of the chip card reader ofFIG. 21;

FIG. 27 a side elevational view of the pressure plate of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 a sectional view along line 28--28 in FIG. 26;

FIG. 29 a side elevational view of a spring element of FIG. 30;

FIG. 30 a top plan view of the spring element of FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 a schematic side elevational view along the line 31--31 in FIG.32;

FIG. 32 a top plan view onto the frame of the chip card reader of FIG.21;

FIG. 33 a schematic sectional view along the line 33--33 in FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 a longitudinal section of a chip card reader having anintegrated foil key board in accordance with a sixth aspect of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 3 show schematically a portion of a contacting system 12 ofthe invention as it can be used in a chip card reader 10, for instanceof the type shown in FIG. 5 for reading or contacting a chip card 11inserted therein. The chip card 11 is not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 but isshown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

The contacting system 12 of the invention comprises a flexible printedcircuit board (also called a flex print) 14 which can be loaded orbiased in a resilient manner by means of a spring element 16, preferablya one piece or integral spring element 16. The spring element 16 ispreferably a sheet metal spring having the shape shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.The spring element 16 forms spring arms 17 and spring cusps 18. Thespring cusps 18 cooperate in a manner shown in particular in FIG. 3 withthe flexible circuit board 14. The spring cusps 18 thus press a cusp 20of the circuit board 14 in the direction towards the chip card 11, and,when a chip card is inserted into the reading position of the chip cardreader onto the card contacts 100 (FIG. 3) of the chip card 11.

As is shown in more detail in FIG. 3, the flexible circuit board 14comprises preferably three layers of foils, i.e. a base foil 23, acopper foil 24 and a cover foil 25. The cover foil 25 is provided with arecess 30 at a location where the contacting cusp of the circuit boardout of the contacting path has to formed. Below, when referring to FIGS.18 through 20 another design of a flexible circuit board will beexplained.

FIG. 4 discloses a design of a flexible circuit board 14 in accordancewith a second aspect of the invention. Here, the arrangment is such thata plurality of contact springs 31, 32, 33 and 34 are formed which eachhave contact areas which are numbered from 1 to 8. Said contact areas 1to 8 can be formed or deformed by one or a plurality of spring elements16, so as to shape the contact cusps 20 shown in FIG. 3. The arrangementof the contact areas 1 to 8 of each of the contact fields 31-34corresponds to the arrangement of the card contacts 100 on the chip card11. For forming the chip card reader 10 as shown in FIG. 5, a folding iscarried out along foldline 41. The necessary spring elements 16 are herenot shown.

The arrangement of the contact fields 31-34 on the flexible circuitboard 14 is provided such that the chip card 11 (as shown in FIG. 5) canbe inserted, for all practical purposes, in each desired position; i.e.in FIG. 5 the insertion is from the right, into the chip card reader 10.Always the necessary contact connections will be present. Each of thecontact fields 1 to 8 and the appropriate conductive paths of the flexprint 14 form a contact element of the chip card reader 10.

Lines 40 in FIG. 4 indicate that the flexible circuit board 14 cancomprise a plurality of continuous pieces which will then be cut apart.Reference numeral 41' relates to a folding line 41 so as to realize thedesign of FIG. 5. In the flexible circuit board 14 connections in theform of conductive paths 50, 51, 52 and so on are provided which connectin a proper manner the contact areas 1 to 8 of the different contactfields 31-34; said connections in the form of conductive paths alsoprovide (even though not shown) in a respective manner the connectionsleading towards the outside of the reader 10.

In accordance with the present invention the spring force is preferablygenerated by a metallic single piece spring element 16. The springelement 16 is relatively flat, i.e. it is a kind of a leaf spring; thisallows the design of very flat chip card readers. Moreover, due to thisdesign, the chip card reader 10 can be manufactured at low cost; it is,in particular, possible to provide for different contact arrangements atdifferent locations so that the insertion of the card is possible ineach direction. Preferably, the flex print or the flexible circuit boardis coated on both sides and thus the chip can be shielded for the entirearea.

A third aspect of the invention is shown in FIGS. 6 through 8. Contraryto the representation of FIGS. 4 and 5, a flexible circuit board (flexprint) 14 is not folded in longitudinal direction, but is folded intransverse direction. The flexible circuit board 14 comprises inaccordance with FIG. 6 contact fields 45 through 48 which correspond tothe contact fields 31-34 of FIG. 4. Each of said contact fields 45through 48 comprises preferably eight contact areas 1 to 8, similar asit is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 8 shows said contact areas 1 to 8. Thecontact areas 1 to 8 of the different contact fields 45 through 48 aresuitably connected, for instance in the manner shown in FIG. 8, i.e. byconductive paths 50 formed in the flex print. Outwardly extendingterminations are referred to by reference numerals 53 and 54. With saidterminations 53 and 54 the processing electronic is connected. Saidprocessing electronic is adapted to process the information contained inthe chip card 11.

FIG. 7 discloses how a chip card reader 43 is created by folding theflexible circuit board 14 along the folding line 44 and along an arc 49.This chip card reader 43 is suitable, in particular, for a chip cardwhich can be inserted in transverse direction. Independent of theposition of the chip card a contacting of the card contacts 100 of thechip card 11, is possible.

In the third embodiment of FIGS. 6 through 8 a spring element 16 inaccordance with FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided similar to the embodiment ofFIGS. 4 and 5, so as to provide properly functioning contact elements.Each of the contact elements of the chip card reader 10 as well as thecontact elements of the chip card reader 43 are formed for all practicalpurposes by each one conductive paths and each one of the contact areas1 through 8, wherein preferably a spring means is provided. The springmeans are preferably in the form of a spring element 16 which isdeformed in the manner as shown in FIG. 3 so as to form a contact cusp20.

FIGS. 9 through 20 disclose a fourth embodiment in accordance with afourth aspect of the invention, i.e. the use of a flexible circuit board(flex print) 59 in a card reader 56 having a movable carriage 58. Springmeans 95 are used which act upon the circuit board 59 directly orindirectly.

FIGS. 9 through 20 show the chip card reader 56 as comprising as baseportion 57 with a carriage 58 slidably mounted therein and adapted tomove downwardly.

For guiding the carriage 58 in the base portion 57 guide means 60 (FIG.15) are provided in the base portion 57 and guide means 75 (FIG. 14) areprovided at the carriage 58. Said guide means 60 and 75 are preferablyin engagement due to their shape and assure the movement of the carriage58 from the insert position of FIG. 9 into the chip card readingposition of FIG. 10.

The guide means 60 provided at the base portion 57 have preferably--seeFIG. 16--the form of oppositely located recesses which are in engagementwith pins 76 through 79 at the carriage 58. The base portion 57comprises a bottom wall 63 within which about centrally but laterallyoffset, a slot 64 is provided, which serves to receive an arm 80 of thecarriage 58. Moreover, a bottom wall 63 forms a card brake 65 in theform of a resilient arm so as to hold a chip card inserted into thereading position in said position during the reading process. Moreover,at the bottom wall 63 a locking means 66 is provided. Further, a backwall 57 is formed which can be used as an abutment for the chip cardbeing in the reading position of the chip card reader.

The carriage 58 comprises--see specifically FIG. 14--a frame 70. Saidframe has a first longitudinal side portion 71, a second longitudinalside portion 72, a first transverse side portion 73 and a secondtransverse side portion 74. The guide means 75 of the carriage formed bypins 76 and 79 and the arm 80 which depends downwardly from the carriage58 were already mentioned. Arm 18 serves for the connection to a spring96 which is mounted with its other end at the locking means 66. Spring96 biases the carriage 58 into the card insert position shown in FIG. 9.When the carriage 58 is moved from the position of FIG. 9 into thereading position shown in FIG. 10 due to the insertion of a chip card11, then the spring 96 will be tensioned and has thus the tendency tomove the carriage 58 backwardly towards the card insert position shownin FIG. 9. For instance by means of the frictional force of the brake,this movement will be blocked until the card 11 is pulled out of thereader through a guide slot 61 in the base portion 7.

As one can recognize in some detail in FIGS. 13 and 14, an opening 91 inthe carriage 58 is partially covered by ribs 81 through 84. Preferably,the ribs 81 through 84 are formed together with the frame 30 of plasticmaterial. Each of said ribs 81 through 84 comprises in its center aprojection 85 which serves for the cooperation with spring means 95 yetto be described in detail. Opposite to the respective projections 85extend noses 86 and 87 away from the ribs preferably symmetrically withrespect to the respective projection 85. The noses 86 and 87 are adaptedto touch the circuit board 59 so as to form the contact cusps 20 alreadymentioned. In the carriage 58 is a recess 88 which forms spring holdingmeans. For this purpose there are preferably projections 89 and 90present which hold or support spring means 95.

Moreover, the carriage 58 forms mounting means 92 for the flexiblecircuit board 14 or the flex print. Preferably, the carriage 58 and themounting means 92 are formed together by injection moulding. Themounting means 92 comprise--more specifically two (see FIG.14)--upwardly projecting pins 93 as well as two arms 94 which formtogether with the surface of the carriage 58 a receiving slot for theflexible circuit board 59. Opposite to said mounting means 92 thecarriage 58 is provided with mounting means 97 which serve for theconnection of an opening 100 of the flexible circuit board 59. Pins 93'and 94' serve for receiving openings 113 of the circuit board 59.

The spring means 95 is preferably in the form of a leaf spring 99 whichcomprises four ribs 101, 102, 103 and 104 which cooperate withrespective ribs 84, 83, 82 and 81. Transverse ribs 105 connect the ribs101 through 104 at the transverse sides. The leaf spring 99 ispreferably of a generally planar design.

The leaf spring 99 is inserted into the recess 88 preferably such that aforce is transmitted to the projections 85, such that the noses 86, 87are pressed downwardly from the rest position shown in FIG. 13. Thenoses 86, 87 in turn, press against the flexible circuit board 59preferably at a location where the contact areas 1 through 8 arelocated.

FIGS. 17 through 20 show in detail a preferred flexible printed circuitboard 59 (flex print). The flexible circuit board 59 is provided with aplurality of conductive paths 111. The conductive paths 111 are providedwith conductive path extensions 112 preferably at a location where thecontact areas 1 through 8 are. In the area of said conductive pathextensions 112 there are preferably contact locations 120 formed whichhave preferably a circular cross-section, as will be explained below.Said contact locations 120 form contacts which are adapted to contactthe contacts of a chip card. The conductive paths 111 end interminations 115 to which a processing circuit can be connected.

FIGS. 19 and 20 discloses that the circuit board 59 comprises preferablya cover foil 122 and a base foil 126. The cover foil 122 comprises inturn a polyimid layer 123, an adhesive layer 124 and a protective foil125. The base foil 126 comprises a copper layer 127, an adhesive layer128 and polyimid layer 129. The design of said circuit board 59 differsalso with respect to the terminology, somewhat from the circuit board 14shown in FIG. 3.

In the area of the contact locations 120 the cover foil 122 is notexistent, so that the copper layer 127 is accessible. This isschematically shown in detail in FIG. 17. Here, one can see aninterruption of the cover foil 122 and one can see the copper layer 127referred to by the dashed line. Preferably, the copper layer 127 isthicker in the area of the contact location 120. Also, it is possible toprovide in this area a gold or silver layer. The flexible circuit board59 will preferably be formed in the manner shown in FIG. 17 for instanceby coining such that a contact cusp 20 is formed. Thus, the contact cusp20 is formed without relying on the force which is for instancegenerated by the spring element 133. The spring element, for instancethe spring element 133, still has the task to provide the preformedcontact cusp 20 with the necessary resiliency, so as to obtain a safecontact with the card contacts of the chip card.

The mounting of the flexible circuit board 59 at the carriage 58 isclear for the skilled person based on the preceding description. The endof the flexible circuit board 59 shown on the left-hand side of FIG. 18is held at the bottom side of the carriage 58 by means of the arm 80which is in engagement with the opening 100; the openings 113 of thecircuit board 59 are located around the pins 93', 94'. Then, the circuitboard 59 extends over the noses 86 and 87 and is guided around the rightend of the carriage 58 so as to be held at the upper surface of thecarriage 58 as well as the pins 93, with said pins projecting into theopenings 114 of the circuit board 59. From there the circuit board 59extends, as is shown in FIG. 9, to the processing circuit adapted to beconnected to the chip card reader. Due to the fact that the flexiblecircuit board 59 extends in a tensioned manner about the bottom side ofthe carriage 56, and due to the fact that the ribs 81 through 84 aretensioned by the spring means 95, the noses 86, 87 will press from theinside against the contact cusps 20 so that the contact cusps are in aresilient engagement with the respective card contacts in the readingposition of FIG. 10.

FIGS. 21 through 33 disclose a fifth aspect or a fifth embodiment of theinvention in accordance with which the chip card reader 130 is providedwhich comprises static frame or housing means 140 as well as contactpressing means 141 which are preferably perpendicularly movable withrespect to the chip card 11. In accordance with a preferred embodimentof the invention, spring means 142 are provided which cooperate inparticular with a flexible circuit board 14.

The frame or housing means 140 comprise preferably a frame 131 and acover 134. The cover 134 is fixedly mounted to the frame 131. The springmeans 142 are preferably in the form of a spring element 133 (FIGS. 29,30). The spring element 133 is preferably of a single piece design andis preferably made of metal. The spring element 133 comprises a springframe 164 from which spring arms 166, 167 extend in a comb-like mannerand facing toward each other. The spring arms 166, 167 are preferablyprovided with cusps 169 as shown in FIG. 29. The cusps 169 are providedfor abutment with a flex print 14. The spring frame 64 further forms onits two oppositely located sides each one generally U-shaped cusp likegroove 168 or else individual cusps.

The frame 131 as shown in detail in FIGS. 31 through 33 forms twooppositely located guide walls 135 for the side edges of the chip cardand the frame further forms a guide surface 136 (FIG. 24) so to speak onthe upper side of the frame 131. Further, two spaced ribs 138 and 139are provided in a single piece design with the frame 131. Said ribs 138and 139 serve for the support of a flexible circuit board 59 or 14 andspecifically for the tensioning of the same.

In FIGS. 25 through 28 the pressure plate 132 is shown in detail. Thepressure plate comprises at its left end as shown in FIG. 26 (two)abutments 150, 151. The abutments preferably extend in FIG. 26 upwardlyand cooperate with the front edge of a chip card being inserted, so asto cause a movement of the pressure plate 132 from the position shown inFIG. 21 into the (reading) position shown in FIG. 22. It can berecognized that this movement of the pressure plate 32 presses a portionof the spring element 132 perpendicularly towards the card and alsoupwardly (see FIGS. 21, 22) and causes thereby that the contactlocations 120 of the contact elements of the chip chard reader 130contact with the card contacts 120 of the chip card 11. In theembodiment as shown the contact elements of the chip card reader 130 arepreferably formed by the flexible circuit board 14 which comprises forthis purpose similar to what is shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 conductivepaths 111 and contact cusps 20. Said contact cusps 20 will be pressedwith their contact locations 120 against the card contacts 20 whenmoving from the position of FIG. 21 into the position of FIG. 22.

Even though the contact elements of the chip card reader 130 are hererealized by a flexible circuit board 14, it is in accordance with thepresent invention also possible to provide for a movement of the contactelements substantially perpendicular to the surface of the chip cardcarrying the card contacts when the contacting has to be made with thechip card contacts.

The pressure plate 132 is, in some more detail, provided at its bothlongitudinal sides with guide rails 152 which can be inserted into aguide 153 in the frame 131 as is shown in FIG. 133. At the upper side orsupport surface 55 for the spring element 133 are lifting means 162 forthe pressure plate 132. Said lifting means will at least partially liftthe spring element 133 when the pressure plate 132 is moved. Due to thelifting of the spring element 133 or its spring frame 164, the springarms 166 and 167 will press with their cusps 169 against the flexiblecircuit board 14 in the region of the contact areas 1 through 8 so thatsaid contact areas obtain a safe contact engagement with the cardcontacts of the chip card 11.

In accordance with the present invention the lifting means 162 arepreferably formed by an indentation 157 and oppositely thereto by anindentation 160 in the pressure plate 132. Inclined surfaces 158 and159, respectively, provide for a safe upward movement and guidance ofthe grooves or cusps 168 so that they will lie on the upper surface,i.e. the support surfaces 155 and 156, respectively of the pressureplate 132.

In the embodiment shown the circuit board is provided with oppositelylocated terminations 172, 173 (see FIG. 21).

FIG. 34 discloses a sixth embodiment of the invention, i.e. a chip cardreader 180 which uses a flexible circuit board or a flex print 182together with a key board 181. An insert slot 191 for a chip card isformed in a housing 190. A spring element 193 is held in a chamber 196of the housing 190. The spring element 193 comprises arms 194 whichcontact the flex print 82 in the manner described above, so as to formcontact elements with contact cusps 20.

The flex print 182 extends beyond the chamber 196 by a flex printportion 183 and in particular by a flex print portion 184 extendingparallel thereto, so as to end enventually in a flex print portion 185which is designed such that it forms the key board of the foil keyboard. The key board 181 comprises keys 186 so that a key board resultswhich is integrated with the chip card reader 180.

I claim:
 1. A universal chip card reader and a universal SIM cardreader, respectively comprising electrical contact elements for engagingsaid chip card,wherein said contact elements are arranged in contactfields on a flexible circuit board, wherein the flexible circuit boardis folded to permit said contact elements to engage both sides of arespective chip card or SIM card, and wherein the chip card and SIM cardare adapted to be inserted in any desirable direction into therespective card reader.
 2. A universal chip card reader and universalSIM card reader, respectively, according to claim 1, wherein theflexible circuit board is folded in a transverse direction relative toconductive paths in said flexible circuit board.
 3. A universal chipcard reader and a universal SIM card reader, respectively, according toclaim 1, wherein the flexible circuit board is folded in longitudinaldirection relative to contact paths on the flexible circuit board.
 4. Achip card reader as set forth in claim 1, wherein said contact elementsare biased by spring means which exert a spring force against thecontact elements.
 5. A chip card reader as set forth in claim 1, whereinfor each of the contact fields of the flexible circuit board, a singlemetal spring is provided.
 6. A chip card reader according to claim 5,wherein the metal spring presses indirectly against the circuit board.7. A chip card reader as set forth in claim 1, wherein the circuit boardis guided around a carriage, the carriage being guided in a frame of thechip card reader such that it is lowered towards a reading positionduring insertion of a chip card.
 8. A chip card reader according toclaim 7, wherein the carriage comprises ribs which are biased towardsthe flexible circuit board by means of a spring element.
 9. A chip cardreader as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit boardincludes cusps in the area of said contact elements.
 10. A chip cardreader according to claim 9, wherein the contact elements are formedfrom an exposed metal layer in said flexible circuit board, and whereinthe exposed metal layer is reinforced by another metal layer.
 11. A chipcard reader according to claim 10, wherein the metal layer exposed inthe area of the contact location is coated with a gold layer.
 12. A chipcard reader according to claim 1, wherein the contact elements, wheninserting the chip card, are moved on said chip card contacts in adirection substantially perpendicular to the surface of the card.
 13. Achip card reader as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a frame anda pressure plate, the pressure plate being provided with spring means soas to press against the flexible circuit board and thereby press contactelements on the circuit board against card contacts on the chip card.14. A chip card reader according to claim 13, wherein the pressure platecomprises means to provide for a lifting movement of the spring means.15. A chip card reader according to claim 13, wherein said frame isarranged to tension the flexible circuit board.
 16. A chip card readeraccording to claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit board comprises anintegrated foil key board.